Refuse handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A refuse handling vehicle of the front-loading type provided with improved lift and dump apparatus for dumping waste materials from containers into the container of the vehicle. The machine is characterized by improved lift arms which are constructed to be resiliently yieldable so as to absorb shocks and stresses encountered during the pick-up and dumping of refuse containers.

United States Patent Appleman 1 May9,1972

[54] REFUSE HANDLING APPARATUS [72] lnventor: William S. Appleman,Galion, Ohio [73] Assignee: Harsco Corporation, Camp Hill, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 61,113

[52] [1.5. CI ..214/302, 214/142 [51 Int. Cl. ..B65f 3/04 [58] FieldofSeareh ..212/144, 145; 214/302, 131, 214/142, 143

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,438 8/1967 l-loltkamp..214/302 Dempster et a1 ..214/302 3,278,059 10/1966 Ridgeway et al..214/302 3,217,913 11/1965 Aldredge et a1. ...214/302 2,224,789 12/1940Kurtz et a1. ..214/503 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza AssistantExaminer-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorney-Schmieding & Fultz [5 7] ABSTRACT Arefuse handling vehicle of the front-loading type provided with improvedlift and dump apparatus for dumping waste materials from containers intothe container of the vehicle. The machine is characterized by improvedlift arms which are constructed to be resiliently yieldable so as toabsorb shocks and stresses encountered during the pick-up and dumping ofrefuse containers.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMY 9 1912 SHEET 1 OF 5 INVENTOR.WILL/AM 5. APPLE/V4 ATT RNEYS PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 SHEET 2 BF 5 INVENTOR.WILLIAM S. APPLEMAN ATTZR NEYS WILL/AM s, APE 15% AHZRNEYS PATENTEDMM 91972 SHLU U UF 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM S. APPLE/WAN ATTO NEYS PATENTED MAY 9I972 f-LHEH 5 OF 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM s. APPLEMAN f Jultl ATTO EYS REFUSEHANDLING APPARATUS This invention relates generally to refuse handlingequipment and more particularly to improved front-loading type lift anddump apparatus for dispensing waste materials from containers intorefuse collecting vehicles.

In general, the improved lift and dump apparatus of the presentinvention comprises novel lift arm apparatus of composite or sectionalconstruction, adapted for mounting on a refuse collecting truck for thefront end loading thereof, which lift arm apparatus is constructed to beresiliently yieldable so as to absorb shocks and stresses encounteredduring the pickup and dumping of refuse containers.

As another aspect of the present invention, the lift and dump apparatusincorporates a novel latch type container engaging latching mechanismadapted for use with vehicle mounted articulated lift arms of theover-the-cab type.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the improved lift anddump apparatus comprises independently yieldable right and left liftarms adapted to apply substantially equally distributed lifting force toboth sides of a refuse container at the container engaging portion ofthe lifting operation, notwithstanding any non-level disposition of thecontainer on irregular terrain.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved lift and dump apparatus for front loading type refusecollecting trucks which apparatus is resiliently yieldable so as toabsorb shocks and stresses during container pick-up and dumpingoperations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedlift and dump apparatus that incorporates novel latch type containerengaging means adapted for use with over-the-cab type lift armconstructions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved lift arm construction for front loading type refuse trucks thatsubstantially, equally distributes the container imposed pick-upstresses to two spaced lifting arms.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a refuse collecting vehicleprovided with lift and dump apparatus constructed in accordance with thepresent invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side'elevational view of a lift arm assembly of the vehicleof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a modified lift arm assembly foruse with the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of a resilient arm jointcomprising a portion of the lift arm assemblies of FIGS. 2 and 3, saidarm being in a loaded configuration;

FIG. 5 is a second partial side elevational view of the resilient armjoint of FIG. 4 showing the joint with the arm assembly in an unloadedconfiguration;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the modified lift arm assemblyof FIG. 3 mounted on a refuse collecting vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the resilient arm joint of FIG. 4 and5, the section being taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a partial front sectional view of the modified lift armassembly of FIG. 3, the section being taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a refuse collecting vehicle isillustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a body indicated generally at 20 thatis provided with a top refuse receiving opening 21 and a lift armassembly indicated generally at 22 and pivotally mounted to the frame ofthe vehicle at a pivot 32.

In general, the lift arm assembly 22 is actuated between a lower pickupposition of FIG. 1, wherein the lift arm assembly is adapted to engage arefuse container indicated generally at 23, and a dumping position ofFIG. 6, wherein the container is overturned so as to discharge wastematerial into the previously mentioned top body opening 21. Themechanism for actuating the lift arm assembly comprises a power cylinder34 which includes an upper pivotal connection with the body at a pivot36 and a lower pivotal connection with a lever arm 39 at a pivot 38.Lever arm 39 is rigidly connected to the rear end of a rear lift armsection 28 so as to pivot it about the lift arm pivot 32.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower front ends of liftarms 22 are provided with two spaced container engaging means indicatedgenerally at 40 each of which includes a forwardly extending leg member27 pivotally mounted to the lower front end of a respective front liftarm section 30 at a leg pivot 52.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the legs 27 can bearcuately manipulated between the positions shown in dotted delineationin FIG. 2 by a leg actuating power cylinder 46 having an upper pivotalconnection 44 with a cylinder bracket 42 and a lower pivotal connection50 on leg 27.

In general, leg actuating cylinders 46 are used for the finaloverturning and dumping of the container 23 after the arm assemblies 22have been actuated to a dump position wherein a container 23 overliestop body opening 21.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the legs 27 includesan upwardly facing open-ended slot 62 for embracing a respective one ofa pair of oppositely extended container lugs 25 when the lift armassemblies 22 are lifted from the position of FIG. 1 to a positionwherein slots 62 on the forward end of legs 27 move upwardly intosurrounding engagement with container lugs 25.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the forward ends of legs 27 each include alatch member or hook 58 pivotally mounted to the leg 27 at a pivot 60. Alatch actuating link 68 includes a fixed rear pivotal connection 54 on afixed arm 53 which is always stationary with respect to front armsection 30 and a front pivotal connection 64 with latch member 58eccentric of latch pivot 60 such that when power cylinder 46 ispressurized at its rod end so as to retract rod 124, then leg 27 ispivotted clockwise about its rear leg pivot 52 whereby latch member 58is pivotted clockwise to close slot 62 and retain container lugs 25therein.

The latch closing action just described functions to retain thecontainer within slot 62 when leg 27 is overturned with the lift armassemblies 22 in the dumping position illustrated in dotted delineationin FIG. 6.

With continued reference to the embodiment of FIGS. I and 2, the liftarm assemblies 22 each includes a resilient arm joint apparatusindicated generally at 31 and illustrated in enlarge detail in FIGS. 4,5 and 7. Such resilient arm joint apparatus comprises an arm pivot pin70 extended through spaced lug sections 33 of rear arm section 28 and acenter lug 35 of front arm section 30 with a grease fitting 37 beingprovided for lubricating the pivot pin 70 and lug portions.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, resilient arm joint 31further includes confronting end surfaces 78 and 80 at the junction ofthe arm sections and a resilient bumper 76 is mounted on one of thesesurfaces 80 by a plurality of counter sunk studs 100 and arranged toengage the other of the surfaces 78 as seen in FIG. 4 when the lift armassemblies 22 are subjected to load applied by a counter-clockwisetorque about their arm pivots 70.

As is best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the resilient arm joint apparatus31 further includes a lost motion connection formed by guides 82 and 84which are respectively mounted on front arm sections 30 and 28 andinclude the alignedbores 94 and 98. A rod 86 extends freely through thebores 94 and 98, as well as through a bore 98 in a rigid stop member 96,and such rod includes nuts 88 and 90 mounted on threaded end portionsthereof.

It will now be understood that the lost motion connection just describedpermits yielding by limited pivotal movement of front arm section 30relative to rear arm section 28 about arm pivot 70 between the loadedconfiguration of FIG. 4 and the unloaded configuration of FIG. 5. In theloaded configuration of FIG. 4 resilient bumper 76 is compressed and aspace exists between guide 82 and nut 88. In the unloaded configurationof FIG. 5, resilient bumper 76 expands and a space is now presentbetween spacer 96 and guide 84.

It should be mentioned that when load is applied to the lift armassemblies 22, front arm sections 30 force resilient cushions 76, formedof synthetic rubber or the like, into compressed engagement with endsurfaces 78 on rear arm section 28 with the compression of resilientbumpers 78 being limited by the axial length of rigid stop members 96.

Reference is next made to a modified lift arm assembly of FIGS. 3 and 6which includes the resilient arm pivot 31 just described, but which isalso provided with a fork-type container engaging assembly 102 in placeof the hook-type 40 utilized with the arm assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A refuse collecting vehicle provided with such fork-type lift apparatusis partially illustrated in FIG. 6 with details of the modifiedcontainer engaging assembly 102 being illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. Suchcontainer engaging assembly 102 includes a pair of spaced forwardlyextending forks or arms 106 said assembly being mounted on lower ends offront arm sections 30. The entire assembly is pivotally mounted at thelower arm pivots 52, FIGS. 3 and 6, and include a pivotal connection 134with the lower end of rod 124 of power cylinder 104 such that when thepower cylinder is energized, the fork assembly swung arcuately in themanner illustrated in dotted delineation in FIG. 3.

In general, forks 106 are adapted to engage longitudinally extendingopen-ended channels on the sides of a container upon advancement of thevehicle with the forks 106 positioned horizontally, whereby the spacedforks 106 are inserted into said horizontally extending channels, notillustrated. In addition, each of the forks 106 includes a protrusion orshoulder 108 in its forward end so as to retain the container sockets orchannels on the fork.

As seen in FIG. 8, a sectional view taken along the line 88 in FIG. 3,the forked member 106 can each be removably mounted between thepivotally mounted fork mounting plates 126 by longitudinally spacedbolts 128, extended between the plates and through bores in the rear endof the fork 106, thereby permitting removal or replacement of the forks.

Also, the lateral spacing between the forks can be varied, as shown indotted delineation at 106 in FIG. 8, so as to permit the forks to beused with refuse containers of different widths. Lever actuated cammechanisms, not illustrated, can be used for anchoring the forks 106 atvarious lateral locations along the transverse mounting pins 128.

With further reference to FIG. 8, a transverse beam 130 extends betweenthe fork mounting plate assemblies 126 so as to add rigidly to theentire lift arm assembly.

FIG. 8 further shows, in section, the detail of the pivotal connectionbetween rod 124 of power cylinder 34 and a pivot pin I34, FIGS. 3 and 6,that connects such rod to fork mounting plates 126. It will be notedthat such pivotal connection, FIG. 8, includes a rod end bearing member132 disposed in a slot 133 in pivot bracket 122 and a pivot pin 134 ismounted in a lateral bore 51 in the pivot bracket.

In operation of either the embodiment of FIG. 1 or the embodiment ofFIG. 6, after a container has been engaged by the container engagingmeans 40 of FIG. 1 or 102 of FIG. 6, and the vehicle is inadvertentlyfurther advanced such that the container is urged against anobstruction, such as a wall of a loading clock, the resilient arm joints31 permit resilient yielding movement of front arm sections 30 about armpivots 70 causing resilient cushions 76 to be compressed. At this point,any sudden shock stresses will be absorbed by resilient cushions 76,thereby greatly reducing the possibility of damage to the mechanisms ofthe lift arm assemblies and container,

Also, it should be pointed out that since the right and left lift armassemblies 22 can yield independently into engagement with container 23,such engagement is facilitated in the event that the container isdisposed on an uneven surface with the lug 25 on one side lower than thelug 25 on the other side since as the lift arms are pivotted around therear pivot 32 to cause engagement of slots 62 with the container lugs25, one of the container lugs at the low side of the unevenly positionedcon' tainer will first be engaged and the front arm section on such sideis free to yield due to the compressibility of resilient cushion 76until the slot 62 on the high side of the container has moved up intoengagement with its respective container lug 25. As the pivotting of thelift arms continues, both the right and left container engaging slots 62will be in contact with respective lugs 25 as the lifting force istransmitted to the loaded container. It will now be understood thatengagement, at the point of pickup, is insured at both lugs of thecontainer, even through such container is unevenly disposed on anonuniform supporting surface.

I claim:

1. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includingresilient arm joint pivot connecting a front arm section to a rear armsection container engaging means mounted on the ends of said arms; acontainer including pick-up means for detachable connection with saidcontainer engaging means; means for pivoting said lift arms on saidsupporting means to lift said container to a position above said opentop receptacle; and actuating means for said container engaging meansfor pivoting said container to an overturned dumping position.

2. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and in cluding right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga front arm section connected to a rear arm section; a resilient armjoint mounting said front arm section on said rear arm section andcomprising an arm pivot between said sections and a lost motionconnection between said sections and spaced from said arm pivot;container engaging means mounted on the ends of said arms; a containerincluding pick-up means for detachable connection with said containerengaging means; means for pivoting said lift arms on said supportingmeans to lift said container to a position above said open topreceptacle; and actuating means for said container engaging means forpivoting said container to an overturned dumping position.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said front and rear armsections include spaced confronting end surfaces; and a resilient bumpermounted on one of said end surfaces.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said lost motion connectionincludes a front connection portion on said front arm section, a rearconnection portion on said rear arm section, axially aligned boresthrough said connection portions, and rod means extended through saidbores and including end stop means limiting movement of said connectionportions.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said lost motion connectionincludes a front connection portion on said front arm section, a rearconnection portion on said rear arm section, axially aligned boresthrough said connection portions; rod means extended through said boresand including end stop means limiting movement of said connectionportions; and a stop member on said rod means between said connectionpor tions.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said front and rear armsections include spaced confronting end surfaces; a resilient bumpermounted on one of said end surfaces; and wherein said lost motionconnection includes a front connection portion on said front armsection, a rear connection portion on said rear arm section, axiallyaligned bores through said connection portions, and rod means extendedthrough said bores and including end stop means limiting movement ofsaid connection portions.

7. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arm means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms extending upwardly,forwardly and downwardly, said arms being of composite construction andincluding resilient arm section pivots joining front arm sections torear arm sections; right and left leg members pivotally mounted onvertically extending front portions of said right and left arms, saidleg members being normally extended horizontally forwardly from rear legpivots on said vertically extending arm portions and including normallyvertically disposed slot means; a container provided with outwardlyextending lug means on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagementby said slot means; a latch member movably mounted on the forward end ofeach of said leg members and including a lug engaging shoulder forretaining said lug means in said slot; a leg actuating power cylinderincluding an upper pivotal connection with said vertically extendingfront arm portion above said rear leg pivot and a lower pivotalconnection with said leg forwardly of said rear leg pivot, thelongitudinal axis of said leg actuating power cylinder being verticallydisposed when said leg portions are in a normal horizontally extendingposition; a latch actuating link including a rear pivot connection withsaid vertically extending front arm portion and a front pivotalconnection with latch member; and means for pivoting said left arms onsaid support means.

8. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga resilient arm joint pivot connecting a front arm section to a rear armsection right and left leg members pivotally mounted on verticallyextending front portions of said right and left arms, said leg membersbeing normally extended horizontally forwardly from rear leg pivots onsaid vertically extending arm portions and including normally verticallydisposed slot means; a container provided with outwardly extending lugmeans on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagement by said slotmeans; a latch member movably mounted on the forward end of each of saidleg members and including a lug engaging shoulder for retaining said lugmeans in said slot; a leg actuating power cylinder including an upperpivotal connection with said vertically extending front arm portion anda lower pivotal connection with said leg; linkage means for actuatingsaid latch member responsive to pivoting of said leg by said legactuating power cylinder; and means for pivoting said lift arms on saidsupport means.

9. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga front arm section connected to a rear arm section; a resilient armjoint mounting said front arm section on said rear arm section andcomprising an arm pivot between said sections and a lost motionconnection between said sections and spaced from said arm pivot; rightand left leg members pivotally mounted on vertically extending frontportions of said right and left arms, said leg members being normallyextended horizontally forwardly from rear leg pivots on said verticallyextending arm portions and including normally vertically disposed slotmeans; a container provided with outwardly extending lug means onopposite sides thereof for slideable engagement by said slot means; alatch member movably mounted on the forward end of each of said legmembers and includin a lug engaging shoulder for retaining said lugmeans in sai slot; a leg actuating power cylinder including an upperpivotal connection with said vertically extending front arm portion anda lower pivotal connection with said leg; linkage means for actuatingsaid latch member responsive to pivoting of said leg by said legactuating power cylinder; and means for pivoting said left arms on saidsupport means.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said front and rear armsections include spaced confronting end surfaces; and a resilient bumpermounted on one of said end surfaces.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said lost motion connectionincludes a front connection portion on said front arm section, a rearconnection portion on said rear arm section, axially aligned boresthrough said connection portions, and rod means extended through saidbores and including end stop means limiting movement of said connectionportions.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said lost motion connectionincludes a front connection portion on said front arm section, a rearconnection portion on said rear arm section, axially aligned boresthrough said connection portions; rod means extended through said boresand including end stop means limiting movement of said connectionportions; and a stop member on said rod means between said connectionportions.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said front and rear armsections include spaced confronting end surfaces; a resilient bumpermounted on one of said end surfaces; and wherein said lost motionconnection includes a front connection portion on said front armsection, a rear connection portion on said rear arm section, axiallyaligned bores through said connection portions, and rod means extendedthrough said bores and including end stop means limiting movement ofsaid connection portions.

14. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga resilient arm joint pivot connecting a front arm section to a rear armsection right and left leg members pivotally mounted on verticallyextending front portions of said right and left arms, said leg membersbeing normally extended horizontally forwardly from rear leg pivots onsaid vertically extending arm portions and including normally verticallydisposed slot means; a container provided with outwardly extending lugmeans on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagement by said slotmeans; a latch member movably mounted on the forward end of each of saidleg members and including a lug engaging shoulder for retaining said lugmeans in said slot; a leg actuating power cylinder including an upperpivotal connection with said vertically extending frontarm portion abovesaid rear leg pivot and a lower pivotal connection with said legforwardly of said rear leg pivot, the longitudinal axis of said legactuating power cylinder being vertically disposed when said legportions are in a normal horizontally extending position; a latchactuating link including a rear pivot connection with said verticallyextending front arm portion and a front pivotal connection with latchmember; and means for pivoting said left arms on said support means.

t I i i

1. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includingresilient arm joint pivot connecting a front arm section to a rear armsection container engaging means mounted on the ends of said arms; acontainer including pick-up means for detachable connection with saidcontainer engaging means; means for pivoting said lift arms on saidsupporting means to lift said container to a position above said opentop receptacle; and actuating means for said container engaging meansfor pivoting said container to an overturned dumping position. 2.Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga front arm section connected to a rear arm section; a resilient armjoint mounting said front arm section on said rear arm section andcomprising an arm pivot between said sections and a lost motionconnection between said sections and spaced from said arm pivot;container engaging means mounted on the ends of said arms; a containerincluding pick-up means for detachable connection with said containerengaging means; means for pivoting said lift arms on said supportingmeans to lift said container to a position above said open toPreceptacle; and actuating means for said container engaging means forpivoting said container to an overturned dumping position.
 3. Theapparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said front and rear arm sectionsinclude spaced confronting end surfaces; and a resilient bumper mountedon one of said end surfaces.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 whereinsaid lost motion connection includes a front connection portion on saidfront arm section, a rear connection portion on said rear arm section,axially aligned bores through said connection portions, and rod meansextended through said bores and including end stop means limitingmovement of said connection portions.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim2 wherein said lost motion connection includes a front connectionportion on said front arm section, a rear connection portion on saidrear arm section, axially aligned bores through said connectionportions; rod means extended through said bores and including end stopmeans limiting movement of said connection portions; and a stop memberon said rod means between said connection portions.
 6. The apparatusdefined in claim 2 wherein said front and rear arm sections includespaced confronting end surfaces; a resilient bumper mounted on one ofsaid end surfaces; and wherein said lost motion connection includes afront connection portion on said front arm section, a rear connectionportion on said rear arm section, axially aligned bores through saidconnection portions, and rod means extended through said bores andincluding end stop means limiting movement of said connection portions.7. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicleprovided with an open top receptacle comprising, in combination, supportmeans attached to said vehicle; lift arm means pivotally connected tosaid support means and including right and left arms extending upwardly,forwardly and downwardly, said arms being of composite construction andincluding resilient arm section pivots joining front arm sections torear arm sections; right and left leg members pivotally mounted onvertically extending front portions of said right and left arms, saidleg members being normally extended horizontally forwardly from rear legpivots on said vertically extending arm portions and including normallyvertically disposed slot means; a container provided with outwardlyextending lug means on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagementby said slot means; a latch member movably mounted on the forward end ofeach of said leg members and including a lug engaging shoulder forretaining said lug means in said slot; a leg actuating power cylinderincluding an upper pivotal connection with said vertically extendingfront arm portion above said rear leg pivot and a lower pivotalconnection with said leg forwardly of said rear leg pivot, thelongitudinal axis of said leg actuating power cylinder being verticallydisposed when said leg portions are in a normal horizontally extendingposition; a latch actuating link including a rear pivot connection withsaid vertically extending front arm portion and a front pivotalconnection with latch member; and means for pivoting said left arms onsaid support means.
 8. Material lifting and dumping apparatus for afront-loading vehicle provided with an open top receptacle comprising,in combination, support means attached to said vehicle; lift arms meanspivotally connected to said support means and including right and leftarms of composite construction extending upwardly, forwardly anddownwardly and including a resilient arm joint pivot connecting a frontarm section to a rear arm section right and left leg members pivotallymounted on vertically extending front portions of said right and leftarms, said leg members being normally extended horizontally forwardlyfrom rear leg pivots on said vertically extending arm portions andincluding normally vertically disposed slot means; a container providedwith outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereOf forslideable engagement by said slot means; a latch member movably mountedon the forward end of each of said leg members and including a lugengaging shoulder for retaining said lug means in said slot; a legactuating power cylinder including an upper pivotal connection with saidvertically extending front arm portion and a lower pivotal connectionwith said leg; linkage means for actuating said latch member responsiveto pivoting of said leg by said leg actuating power cylinder; and meansfor pivoting said lift arms on said support means.
 9. Material liftingand dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicle provided with an opentop receptacle comprising, in combination, support means attached tosaid vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected to said support meansand including right and left arms of composite construction extendingupwardly, forwardly and downwardly and including a front arm sectionconnected to a rear arm section; a resilient arm joint mounting saidfront arm section on said rear arm section and comprising an arm pivotbetween said sections and a lost motion connection between said sectionsand spaced from said arm pivot; right and left leg members pivotallymounted on vertically extending front portions of said right and leftarms, said leg members being normally extended horizontally forwardlyfrom rear leg pivots on said vertically extending arm portions andincluding normally vertically disposed slot means; a container providedwith outwardly extending lug means on opposite sides thereof forslideable engagement by said slot means; a latch member movably mountedon the forward end of each of said leg members and including a lugengaging shoulder for retaining said lug means in said slot; a legactuating power cylinder including an upper pivotal connection with saidvertically extending front arm portion and a lower pivotal connectionwith said leg; linkage means for actuating said latch member responsiveto pivoting of said leg by said leg actuating power cylinder; and meansfor pivoting said left arms on said support means.
 10. The apparatusdefined in claim 9 wherein said front and rear arm sections includespaced confronting end surfaces; and a resilient bumper mounted on oneof said end surfaces.
 11. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein saidlost motion connection includes a front connection portion on said frontarm section, a rear connection portion on said rear arm section, axiallyaligned bores through said connection portions, and rod means extendedthrough said bores and including end stop means limiting movement ofsaid connection portions.
 12. The apparatus defined in claim 9 whereinsaid lost motion connection includes a front connection portion on saidfront arm section, a rear connection portion on said rear arm section,axially aligned bores through said connection portions; rod meansextended through said bores and including end stop means limitingmovement of said connection portions; and a stop member on said rodmeans between said connection portions.
 13. The apparatus defined inclaim 9 wherein said front and rear arm sections include spacedconfronting end surfaces; a resilient bumper mounted on one of said endsurfaces; and wherein said lost motion connection includes a frontconnection portion on said front arm section, a rear connection portionon said rear arm section, axially aligned bores through said connectionportions, and rod means extended through said bores and including endstop means limiting movement of said connection portions.
 14. Materiallifting and dumping apparatus for a front-loading vehicle provided withan open top receptacle comprising, in combination, support meansattached to said vehicle; lift arms means pivotally connected to saidsupport means and including right and left arms of compositeconstruction extending upwardly, forwardly and downwardly and includinga resilient arm joint pivot connecting a front arm section to a rear armsection right and left leg members pivoTally mounted on verticallyextending front portions of said right and left arms, said leg membersbeing normally extended horizontally forwardly from rear leg pivots onsaid vertically extending arm portions and including normally verticallydisposed slot means; a container provided with outwardly extending lugmeans on opposite sides thereof for slideable engagement by said slotmeans; a latch member movably mounted on the forward end of each of saidleg members and including a lug engaging shoulder for retaining said lugmeans in said slot; a leg actuating power cylinder including an upperpivotal connection with said vertically extending front arm portionabove said rear leg pivot and a lower pivotal connection with said legforwardly of said rear leg pivot, the longitudinal axis of said legactuating power cylinder being vertically disposed when said legportions are in a normal horizontally extending position; a latchactuating link including a rear pivot connection with said verticallyextending front arm portion and a front pivotal connection with latchmember; and means for pivoting said left arms on said support means.